"O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count myself
a king of infinite space,
were it not that I have bad dreams."
- Hamlet
Act II scene ii

1 July 2012

Departure

Sri Lanka - like a teardrop hanging from the nose of India. I wish I could have seen more of it and maybe one day I shall return. But at the moment, I am sitting in the departure lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport on the outskirts of Colombo.

I'm London bound but with very little luggage - just this laptop, my lilac speedos and some gifts from Nalin's family but inside my skull I feel weighed down with memories of my time in Blogland. It's hard to pinpoint how and why things went wrong. I guess if the other bloggers - who had solemnly pledged their futures to that nascent kingdom - had arrived and occupied their tropical homesteads, the invaders from the mainland would have been repelled.

I still can't get those awful pictures out of my mind - the night that Thuza and Arun died. Quite possibly, the Blogland I hoped for was just an unachievable dream - a glistening Shangri-la. Maybe we human beings are incapable of forging a paradise on earth - far, far away from the mad rushing crowd. Perhaps we're hooked on stress, hassle, worry, regrets, the niggles of everyday life. I don't know. But one day I'd like to think I'll return to Blogland and try again. Perhaps you will join me?

10 comments:

I too, have bitter-sweet memories - but mostly of 'My' island upon which I was marooned for three weeks. If I was to go back I confess it would be there, where it was trial-and-error, efforts earned direct results and it was just woman and nature.

EARL GRAY That's not far far away from the mad rushing crowd - it's right in the middle of it!JENNY Don't just say Danish - say bacon!KATHERINE I have checked old charts and I have determined that your island's original name was "Woman's Bodice Island" (translated from Burmese)because of the prominent hillocks in the middle of the island.

I'm thinking that walking through beautiful countryside a long way from bustling cities with no-one else in sight IS living in a sort of paradise. I guess all that is missing is the heat so the lilac speedos won't get much use (thank God).Perhaps when you get back home you'll count your blessings.Cheers

I'm still looking for the paradise moments in each and every day here where I live YP.....and usually finding something that makes me thankful. Now a short city break at some point? that would be good.....

HELEN I guess you're right - paradise is probably about perception. Regarding the famous lilac speedos, I'm thinking of selling them on e-bay so make sure you keep an eye on the bidding or risk disappointment!LIBBY A short city break? Try Hong Kong - the majority of people there are certainly on the short side. Or possibly Hull where many people are short of cash.

I will travel anywhere, though I'm still waiting for my passport, but I will only live in my little valley. Personally I'd rather risk violent trespassers on a remote island than a week in New York. I don't think it's fair that you're blaming the rest of us for the violent death you wrote for Thuja and Arun. I would have written an ending that gave the whole island to them and their friends and family and left as a hero. So it's not my fault.

Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.